monotype print

Being a student in an online art class recently, got me thinking about what can be done to have the best experience from an online art class.

On the positive side, I experienced:

• drawing breakthroughs
• using watercolors and pens in new ways
• making with new drawing skills in my own way/voice
• moving beyond fears that stop me

But also I experienced:

• getting behind
• wanting more help
• feeling lost in a big group
• thinking my work was not good enough

Hey wait – this was suppose to be a fun art making experience!

I was able to noticed the things that were not working for me in the course and move beyond them and to embrace the lessons and information that did work for me.

I think this was a key decision. I could have quit or given up, because I was frustrated and had unmet expectations.

Then I realized that some of my own students probably experienced some of these same frustrations in my online printmaking courses. So I want to share some tips on getting the most from an online art course:

Tips on taking online ART course

1. Read the class information and supplies page to determine if the class is right for you.
2. Look at the supplies list and get what you might need.
3. Decide what your intention might be, fun, skill building, work, play, discovery….?
4. Get excited, set up a workspace.
5. When class begins, introduce yourself and “join” the others in the class.
6. Ask questions. If you have a question, then most likely someone else has the same question
7. Even if you have questions about the teaching platform, structure – ask questions.
8. If you “get behind,” reassess, and do what you can. Remember your excitement and reasons for signing up for the course. Contribute to the classroom community, if you can at this point. Look for something positive that you may have learned. It may not even have much to do with the course content.
9. Get to know your learning style. Are you…
   • Visual – learn with pictures, images and space
   • Auditory – like to learn through sound and listening
   • Verbal – learn with words, speech and writing
   • Physical – learn with hands, body and touch
10. Try to figure out the instructor’s teaching style and whether it matches your learning style. Do you want…
    • a coach – to guide you to develop and apply skills and knowledge
    • a professor – to lecture as an expert authority
    • a delegator – empower you to discover on your own and collaboratively
11. What if you think your work is not good enough? – Remember you are the student, you came to learn and you do not have to be “good.” You learn by making and experimenting. So as long as you are making work, it is good enough. If you can share and ask for help with work that is in progress, then you will grow tremendously.
12. What if you are not sure about your computer skills or the social media part of the course? Ask for help.

I hope this helps get you ready to take an online art class. The wonderful part of online art courses is that you can have a world wide community right from your home. You don’t have to pack up supplies and travel to a workshop, you can set up your workspace and play at anytime of the day!

If you would like to explore a printmaking process with me, then check out the current workshop schedule.

 

 

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I gave myself the gift of a week long Art “camp” and I know it will feed my practice for quite some time.

I am at Bennington College in the ART New England program. Here with many other artists. It is amazing how similar and yet diverse we are with our printmaking style.

When I go on an art retreat, I can get pretty intense. I want to learn as much as possible, so I can get the most value and really take my work to a new level. Some times I forget to sleep and “breath.” Here is one moment of  ahhh breath………….. the morning sun.

One wonderful thing is have all my meals prepared and with wonderful choices! Oh if only I could have a chef at home. I am enjoying the beauty of my surroundings. Only 3 more days………….

Class starts today – Books as ART Materials. You still have time to join us.

We will be taking apart old books and making new art and art tools. This is the class for you if you have been collecting books with the intent of doing something with them.

Check out the details on the workshop page and register today.

I love text as texture.

I love handwriting that draws the viewer in closer to the art work.

I love finding my own meaning in the everyday.

I have collected old books for several years. Some of them are beautiful and precious to me. Some of the books have interesting scribbles or marks from former reader. Some have become art and art materials.

I am sharing my ideas on how to use old books as art and art material in the online class – Books as ART Materials. Class starts Friday, so if you are interested in using some old books to make new stuff, then check out the details and join us today.

One thing you can do with old books it create black out or white out poems.

I use the word poem loosely. I like to go through pages and circle words that jump out at me. Then the “poem” makes sense to me, even if it is on a subconscious level.

I love to use the blacking out lines to create patterns, shapes and values. Again it is a meditative process, where I allow the finished product to evolve.

If you would like to explore black out poems and other ways to use books as ART material, then click here to read the details about the online workshop, Books as ART Materials.